December 2021 Public Involvement Meeting
The material below was presented at a public meeting on December 7, 2021 and is provided below for your review.
Facts and Frequently Asked Questions
Why is ARDOT studying I-555?
Craighead County is one of the fastest-growing counties in Arkansas. As this growth is expected to continue, it is important to plan now for tomorrow’s transportation needs. To this end, the Department is conducting a long-range planning study of Interstate 555 (I-555).
Every day, 37,000 motorists rely on I-555 to travel to work, school, or other destinations. Thousands of additional motorists cross I-555 on other roadways, like Red Wolf Blvd., Caraway Road, Harrisburg Road, and Southwest Drive. Several of these cross-streets are above capacity now, and others will exceed capacity in the future. By studying these roadways now, plans can be made to meet future transportation needs.
What are you planning to do to I-555?
This study seeks to identify current problems and to anticipate future problems along the I-555 corridor (including cross-streets). The corridor will be reviewed in terms of safety, mobility/congestion, maintenance, and multimodal performance. Once problems are identified, improvement alternatives will be developed to address these needs. This study will become the vision for I-555 over the next twenty years.
When will I-555 improvements happen?
No funds have been dedicated to I-555 improvements in Craighead County. Once this study is complete, I-555 improvements will be considered as funds become available.
What’s all this construction I’ve been seeing on I-555? How is this study different?
The I-555 roadway through Jonesboro was originally constructed in the late 1960s as a two-lane highway (Hwy. 63) and an additional two lanes were added to Hwy 63 in the early 1970s, and as such, the concrete surface had reached the end of its useful life and required replacement. The route from I-55 to the north of Jonesboro (concurrent with Hwy. 63) was designated as I-555 in 2016. This study is a separate effort to determine needed long-term access improvements through Jonesboro.
I have concerns about I-555, or have ideas on how to make it better.
This is the perfect time to share your thoughts! The study team is looking for your help in understanding the problems on or around I-555, whether these concerns relate to safety, mobility/congestion, maintenance, pedestrian/bicycle needs, or any other issue.
While we are eager to discuss your thoughts, the most important thing that you can do is fill out a comment form. This will ensure that your comments are recorded. The meeting materials will also be placed on this website, so please share the word with anyone else who is interested. All comments need to be submitted by December 28, 2021.
I-555 Study Comment Form
The official comment period is closed but you can still ask questions or provide feedback by emailing the consultant at I-555StudyJonesboro@Halff.com.